Punky's dilemma is choosing between letting himself be drafted or dodging the draft. That's a true dilemma and was a common one during the Vietnam War. While fixing breakfast and smoking a little marijuana, he indulges in a little whimsical escapism by wishing he had the carefree life of a Kellogg's Corn Flake or an English muffin. In fact, being in Southern California would be a nice escape as well.
As Punky begins thinking about being drafted and being in the Army, he imagines himself being remembered and missed in a romantic, heroic sort of way. His alternative thought is to become a draft dodger, not-so-secretly sneaking around the basement. Punky imagines himself as both Martin the first lieutenant and Roger the Draft Dodger. Which will Punky become?
Artistically, naming Kellogg's Corn Flakes as a brand in the song was unusual in songwriting prior to the sixties. Simon & Garfunkel were probably showing a bit of Andy Warhol's influence who championed everyday items such as Campbell's Soup cans and Brillo boxes as art in the early sixties. John Updike did something similar at the same time by including packaging information word for word that a character was reading while eating breakfast.
The last two or three bars of the song transition from "Punky's Dilemma" to the theme song of the 1954 movie "The High and the Mighty," a film starring John Wayne and Robert Stack. This is a musical pun in a couple of ways. The theme song was famous for its incredible whistling and the whistler in this song goes from "Punky's Dilemma" to "The High and the Mighty," as though Punky is escaping reality again, while the theme song title suggests that Punky is high.
@ironjeff this reply may be 9 years old, but as such now, it only proves over all of that time that YOUR explanation has been the most clear, succinct and correct version. We've now all had years of speculation, rumours and titillating ideas clarified with multiple interviews with S&G, notes on their fan pages, web sites and personal commentary at their concerts. Myself have never stopped listening, learning (or playing guitar) and enjoying their music. I find it extraordinary that even in these times, their lyrics could easily be applied to current political upheaval, world and potential war issues. Even...
@ironjeff this reply may be 9 years old, but as such now, it only proves over all of that time that YOUR explanation has been the most clear, succinct and correct version. We've now all had years of speculation, rumours and titillating ideas clarified with multiple interviews with S&G, notes on their fan pages, web sites and personal commentary at their concerts. Myself have never stopped listening, learning (or playing guitar) and enjoying their music. I find it extraordinary that even in these times, their lyrics could easily be applied to current political upheaval, world and potential war issues. Even this song could still be applied to several subsequent conflicts ongoing as I write. Interesting how some of our best writers songs/lyrics are having a resurgence and applying to current events with just as much impact as they did back then. It makes one wonder, have we come a full circle, or is it a perpetual circle with each generation facing similar and near identical life situations, making it easier to apply older, much loved and still cherished lyrics to our lives vs much of the trite, manufactured sort of music of today. That said, thank you for your contribution, belated but still appreciated. Warm regards, ladybudd
Punky's dilemma is choosing between letting himself be drafted or dodging the draft. That's a true dilemma and was a common one during the Vietnam War. While fixing breakfast and smoking a little marijuana, he indulges in a little whimsical escapism by wishing he had the carefree life of a Kellogg's Corn Flake or an English muffin. In fact, being in Southern California would be a nice escape as well.
As Punky begins thinking about being drafted and being in the Army, he imagines himself being remembered and missed in a romantic, heroic sort of way. His alternative thought is to become a draft dodger, not-so-secretly sneaking around the basement. Punky imagines himself as both Martin the first lieutenant and Roger the Draft Dodger. Which will Punky become?
Artistically, naming Kellogg's Corn Flakes as a brand in the song was unusual in songwriting prior to the sixties. Simon & Garfunkel were probably showing a bit of Andy Warhol's influence who championed everyday items such as Campbell's Soup cans and Brillo boxes as art in the early sixties. John Updike did something similar at the same time by including packaging information word for word that a character was reading while eating breakfast.
The last two or three bars of the song transition from "Punky's Dilemma" to the theme song of the 1954 movie "The High and the Mighty," a film starring John Wayne and Robert Stack. This is a musical pun in a couple of ways. The theme song was famous for its incredible whistling and the whistler in this song goes from "Punky's Dilemma" to "The High and the Mighty," as though Punky is escaping reality again, while the theme song title suggests that Punky is high.
@ironjeff this reply may be 9 years old, but as such now, it only proves over all of that time that YOUR explanation has been the most clear, succinct and correct version. We've now all had years of speculation, rumours and titillating ideas clarified with multiple interviews with S&G, notes on their fan pages, web sites and personal commentary at their concerts. Myself have never stopped listening, learning (or playing guitar) and enjoying their music. I find it extraordinary that even in these times, their lyrics could easily be applied to current political upheaval, world and potential war issues. Even...
@ironjeff this reply may be 9 years old, but as such now, it only proves over all of that time that YOUR explanation has been the most clear, succinct and correct version. We've now all had years of speculation, rumours and titillating ideas clarified with multiple interviews with S&G, notes on their fan pages, web sites and personal commentary at their concerts. Myself have never stopped listening, learning (or playing guitar) and enjoying their music. I find it extraordinary that even in these times, their lyrics could easily be applied to current political upheaval, world and potential war issues. Even this song could still be applied to several subsequent conflicts ongoing as I write. Interesting how some of our best writers songs/lyrics are having a resurgence and applying to current events with just as much impact as they did back then. It makes one wonder, have we come a full circle, or is it a perpetual circle with each generation facing similar and near identical life situations, making it easier to apply older, much loved and still cherished lyrics to our lives vs much of the trite, manufactured sort of music of today. That said, thank you for your contribution, belated but still appreciated. Warm regards, ladybudd
@ladybudd -- You don\'t need to look far back into history to see that war was not a new thing in the \'60\'s.
@ladybudd -- You don\'t need to look far back into history to see that war was not a new thing in the \'60\'s.